Fire at western Pennsylvania recycling facility under control

By Paul Ploumis (ScrapMonster Author)
November 09, 2015 07:40:40 AM
A huge fire was reported at INMETCO, located in Ellwood City near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at around 9.30 AM Sunday morning.Fire at western Pennsylvania recycling facility under control
PITTSBURGH (Scrap Monster): The fire which broke out at a battery and hazardous waste recycling plant in western Pennsylvania was brought under control.

The fire was reported at INMETCO, located in Ellwood City near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at around 9.30 AM Sunday morning. The fire sent thick dark smoke with faint odor into the air, which was visible from even a mile from the facility. According to Lawrence County 911, twelve fire companies responded to the fire. The fire was brought under control within two hours of operation. However, crews remained at the site until afternoon to douse hot spots.

No evacuations were ordered. Also, no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was not identified. Calls to the recycling facility went unanswered.

This is not the first fire incident to be reported at the facility. Earlier in December 2011, a fire had broken out at the receiving area of the facility where it used to store batteries. Eight fire companies had attended to that fire, which took almost three hours to get extinguished. Another fire incident was reported at the same facility in October 2012 in the main building premises, which was again attended to by eight fire companies.

INMETCo is a leading recycler of metal-bearing wastes in North America. It is a subsidiary of Horsehead Holding Corp. The company is a recycler of nickel, chromium, iron, molybdenum and cadmium bearing wastes. The company began operations in 1978 by recycling wastes from stainless steel manufacturers known as mill scale, swarf and flue dust. Today, it accepts wide r5ange of waste streams. INMETCO is also permitted to accept hazardous wastes by US EPA.